Elvis Presley 30th Anniversary DVD releases in August

News

Warner Home Video and Paramount Home Entertainment have announced the Region 1 DVD release of several Elvis Presley titles on 7th August 2007. Joining forces once again (following on from their John Wayne collaboration in May) Warner and Paramount will celebrate the life of Elvis Presley, and commemorate the 30th anniversary of “The King’s” passing, with the DVD release of 24 films. The lead Warner titles in the promotion are Deluxe Editions of Viva Las Vegas and Jailhouse Rock ($19.97 SRP each) and 2 Disc Special Editions of Elvis: That’s the Way It Is and This is Elvis (making its R1 DVD debut) ($20.97 SRP each). The lead Paramount offering is the Lights! Camera! Elvis! Collection ($76.99 SRP) presented in a collectible blue suede case.

WHV also will debut Elvis: The Hollywood Collection, containing six Elvis films never before on DVD – Charro, Girl Happy,, Kissin’ Cousins, Stay Away, Joe, Tickle Me and Live A Little, Love A Little. The films will be available as a set ($49.92 SRP), as well as individually ($12.97 SRP each).

PHE is packaging eight classic Presley titles in a collectible blue suede case. The Lights! Camera! Elvis! Collection will include King Creole, G.I. Blues, Blue Hawaii, Roustabout, Girls! Girls! Girls!, Fun In Acapulco, Paradise, Hawaiian Style and Easy Come, Easy Go. Considered by many to be Elvis’ finest acting performance, King Creole was also Elvis’ personal favourite of all his films and was directed by Michael Curtiz (Casablanca). G.I. Blues was the first film that Elvis made after returning from his stint in the army and features the all-time classic song “Blue Suede Shoes”. Elvis’ highest grossing film, Blue Hawaii, was filmed in part on location in the Hawaiian Islands, as were Girls! Girls! Girls!, which was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture—Musical, and Paradise, Hawaiian Style. Elvis co-starred with a string of notable actresses including Ursula Andress in Fun In Acapulco, Barbara Stanwyck in Roustabout and Elsa Lanchester (best known for her role in Bride of Frankenstein) in Easy Come, Easy Go. All eight titles are packaged together for the first time and feature sensational musical performances of beloved songs including “Hard Headed Woman”, “Can’t Help Falling In Love” and “Return To Sender”. Retail is $76.99 SRP on the collection, while titles are available individually priced at $12.99 SRP each.

Warner is also re-releasing six titles in new packaging. Priced at $12.97 SRP each are: Double Trouble, Harum Scarum, It Happened at the World’s Fair, Speedway, Spinout and The Trouble with Girls.

The Films

Viva Las Vegas Deluxe Edition
In one of his most popular movies, Elvis Presley shared the screen with Ann-Margret in Sin City, aka Las Vegas, easily creating the most electrifying teaming Elvis had on-screen. He’s Lucky Jackson, a Grand Prix race driver working at a casino to raise cash for a new engine; she’s a hotel swimming instructor - and the romantic action revs up from their first meeting. Veteran director George Sidney, who guided Ann-Margret in the prior year’s Bye Bye Birdie, combines the hormonal heat wave with fascinating sights of ’60s Las Vegas. Songs include the high-roller title track, the stars’ duet on “The Lady Loves Me,” her sultry “Appreciation” and The King’s version of Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say.”

Features include:

Restored and Digitally Remastered in a 16x9 master, enhanced for widescreen televisions

Soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 from original production elements

Original Mono Soundtrack

Commentary by Steve Pond, rock journalist and author of “Elvis in Hollywood”

New featurette Kingdom: Elvis in Vegas

Theatrical trailer

Subtitles: English & Français (feature film only)

Jailhouse Rock Deluxe Edition
In this 1957 box-office hit that’s Elvis “Presley’s best film” according to Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide, the King plays Vince Everett, jailed for manslaughter after a bar fight. There, Vince learns to belt out tunes while “in the house” and after being paroled, follows a bumpy road to music and movie success. Six Presley songs by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller spike the story, including “Treat Me Nice,” “I Wanna Be Free” and the classic shimmy-shakin’ title tune that was Presley’s favorite of all his films’ production numbers.

Features include:

Restored and Digitally Remastered in a 16x9 master, enhanced for widescreen televisions

Soundtrack Remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 from original production elements

Original Mono Soundtrack

Commentary by Steve Pond, music journalist

New Featurette The Scene That Stole Jailhouse Rock

Theatrical Trailer

Subtitles: English & Français (Feature Film Only)

This is Elvis 2-Disc Special Edition
From executive producer and award-winning documentarian David L. Wolper (Roots, L.A. Confidential), This Is Elvis is an intimate, behind-the-scenes portrait crafted by Andrew Solt (Imagine: John Lennon) and Malcolm Leo (Rolling Stone: 20 Years of Rock ’n’ Roll). Elvis’ “authorized biography” draws on interviews with the people who knew Presley best – family, friends, employees and mentor/manager Colonel Tom Parker – and includes some rare, never before seen footage, including home movies, newsreels and several key TV appearances.

Features include…

Disc 1: First-ever home video release of the original, uncensored 1981 Theatrical version in a new digital transfer with soundtrack remastered in Dolby Surround 2.0

Vintage featurette Behind the Gates of Graceland

Elvis Presley movie trailer gallery

Subtitles: Français (feature film only)

Disc 2: 1983 Unrated expanded Home video version with 40 minutes of footage not shown in theatres

Subtitles: Français (feature film only)

Elvis: That’s the Way It Is 2-Disc Special Edition
It’s summer 1970 and this concert documentary allows unrestricted access to the hottest show in town: Elvis Presley’s milestone four weeks of appearances at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. Dozens of tunes (including favourites “All Shook Up” and “Suspicious Minds”) are included as the camera follows the show’s development from rehearsal to stage. This 2-Disc Special Edition contains two versions – the original 1970 theatrical version and the critically-acclaimed Special Edition from 2000, which captures even more of Elvis’ legendary performances. That’s double the entertainment for Elvis concert fans.

Features include…
Disc 1: (2000 Special Edition)

Restoration featurette Patch It Up: The Restoration of Elvis: That’s the Way It Is

16x9 digital transfer with 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio

Presley career highlights

Director/restorer filmographies

Theatrical trailer

Subtitles: English & Français (feature film only)

Disc 2: (1970 Original Theatrical Version)

Twelve never-before seen outtake song/non-musical sequences

Subtitles: English & Français (feature film only)

Elvis: The Hollywood Collection

Charro!
The Elvis on screen here isn’t the clean-cut all-American kid ready to hit the beach or dance floor. Instead, stubble covers his face; his hat hangs low over his eyes and a bandanna hides the ugly scar that marks him as a killer. Written and directed by Charles Marquis Warren (creator of TV’s Gunsmoke, Rawhide and The Virginian), this stark sagebrush non-musical saga follows an ex-outlaw trying to go straight – but he’s got a score to settle when his own gang frames him for a heist.

Special Features:

First-time widescreen video release [16x9 2.4:1]

Theatrical trailer

Subtitles: English & Français (feature film only)

Girl Happy
Rock ’n’ roll’s first icon was ranked 6th among the top box-office stars when he headlined this film. Elvis portrays Chicago club singer Rusty Wells, who, when not wowing the crowds, has the added task of watching over the overly exuberant daughter of his mob boss (Harold J. Stone) while she’s on vacation in Fort Lauderdale. Shelley Fabares, Presley’s favorite leading lady and a singing star in her own right (her 1962 tune Johnny Angel was a #1 hit), plays the daughter. And the lively songs include “Do the Clam,” “Good News,” “Puppet on a String,” the title tune and eight others. Also featured are Mary Ann Mobley and Gary Crosby.

Special Features:

New digital transfer of complete original theatrical version with Startin’ Tonight song sequence now back in the film

Theatrical trailer

Subtitles: English & Français (feature film only)

Kissin’ Cousins
In his 15th film, the King takes on two roles in this backwoods romp, playing dark-haired Air Force Lt. Josh Morgan and Morgan’s adversary, blonde good ol’ boy Jodie Tatum. Lt. Josh’s assignment: try to convince his look-alike cousin Jodie to allow a missile site to be built on his land. A fistful of tunes “Barefoot Ballad”, “It’s a Long Lonely Highway,” “Tender Feeling,” the title song and 6 others), some whoop-it-up-dancing and 13 mountain cuties called Kittyhawks add to the down-home delights.

Special Features:

New digital transfer of complete original theatrical version with Smokey Mountain Boy song sequence now back in the film

Theatrical trailer

Subtitles: English & Français (feature film only)

Live a Little, Love a Little
In his 28th film, Elvis Presley plays frazzled photographer Greg Nolan, juggling two jobs and scrambling to keep his work life afloat while also contending with the kooky attentions of a beach beauty (Michele Carey). Four breezy songs, including the recent Elvis chart-buster, “A Little Less Conversation” and the “Edge of Reality” dream sequence add to the zippy fun. And, for the first time, Elvis takes on-screen chances with his public image doing more “adult” comedy.

Stay Away, Joe
Elvis Presley portrays amiable Navajo rodeo star Joe Lightcloud, returning to his home to help his tribe become cattle ranchers. A talented ensemble of screen veterans joins Presley for this good-time, two-fisted tale filmed in and around Arizona’s scenic Sedona. Burgess Meredith is Joe’s rascally father, Katy Jurado is his tough-love step mom and Joan Blondell is the shotgun-toting local gal setting her romantic sights on Joe. Plenty of fun and a couple of tunes (the title track and “Dominique”) are along for the ride too.

Special Features:

Theatrical trailer

Subtitles: English & Français (feature film only)

Tickle Me
Looking for part-time work until rodeo season opens, Lonnie Beale (Elvis) finds himself at a dude ranch/spa for actresses and models. Elvis enjoys his share of the laughs as he meets girl (Jocelyn Lane), loses girl and gets girl back - plus a fortune in lost gold. This film frolic tickles with a saddlebag of nine tunes, including “I’m Yours” and “Such an Easy Question.” There’s also considerable tickling of the funny bone since writers Elwood Ullman and Edward Bernds are veterans of the Three Stooges comedies.

Special Features:

First-time widescreen video release [16x9 2.4:1]

Theatrical trailer

Subtitles: English (feature film only)

And here is the new matching artwork for the Warner titles being re-released alongside the new titles above...